The young man still couldn't believe their summer had turned to be such a disaster. How did this whole epidemic started? Where did all those undead came from? Him and Ford had thought maybe someone had tried to raise the dead, just like he did when he was younger, but for an evil reason? That or the person hadn't known what they were doing and something went terribly wrong.
They didn't think about terrorist and some kind of virus, otherwise, it would have spread way more in other countries. From what they could catch on the radio and tv, all country had closed their door to the United-State and were trying to contain everything within the country. He heard once that they were trying to find a way to counter that, but the results weren't really great.
They were trying that too, though their experiments were not very successful either. Not to help, Ford somehow managed to get himself contaminated and he was now left alone to figure that out. They had to find a way to stop this, they needed for thing to get back to normal, they couldn't live like that forever. It was really tiring, especially since he also needed to help keeping their group safe at the shack.
And keeping them safe was meaning he needed to get in town to go and steal some stuff to repair the stanmobile. The shack wasn't that far away from the town, but with zombies lurking out, it was clearly better in a vehicle protecting you. Sure the golf cart was doing the job, but boy was it not the safest one to go around and wouldn't carry much either.
This is what he was driving up until now, needing to get them some stuff in town and car pieces. They didn't like him going alone, but they needed the most people possible at the house to reinforce the barrier. He would clearly have preferred someone coming with him, that way he had someone looking for his back.
He had to stop when he noticed a larger group of undead was coming his way, leaving the cart on the side of the road, running as silently as possible toward a near tree in which he climbs in. From where he was perched he should be safe as they seemed to use smell more than their vision. At least, it's what he had noted from his little study on them, he would still not take the chance to push his luck.
He sighs as he watches them pass under him, seemingly wandering without purpose inside of the Gravity Falls forest. He hopes this wasn't affecting the supernatural population in this woods, it would be a real shame and a disaster. Though, he felt like any of these creatures would deal with them with more ease than humans could. He didn't even want to imagine some of them zombified, it would be terrifying.
It was taking an eternity for them to finally go away, though he could cheer up a little since none of them seems to have placed much interest in the cart. At least he wouldn't have to nudge one of them away.
It was an unspoken rule they seem to have established: don't kill unless you have no choice. They were, most of the time, able to recognise the dead faces as people from Gravity Falls, they couldn't get themselves to kill. So they were either trapping them, running from them or trying to keep them at a safe distance as they were getting to a safer place.
He looked down, frowning when he saw one of them standing a little father, standing still. It was unnerving how it was looking as if he was being looked at directly, even if he couldn't tell for sure from where he was. He knew they sometime would do that, stand around and stare blankly at something and nothing at the same time, but he really had the impression of being watched. But... didn't seem like he would come to him. He really doubted any of them would have enough working mind to actually trick them into feeling safe, only to attack after.
So he just got down from the tree, never taking his eyes away from the standing figure, other than to look around (he wasn't going to make such a stupid mistake). He did stand near the trunk without moving, only staring back, kind of intrigued by the way he was acting. Now it was clear, he was looking at him as his head and eyes had following him all the way down. Yet, the zombie didn't make a move to get closer to him, which was just even more interesting.
He slowly waved his hand, as if to greet him, not really expecting any kind of respond. He was surprised when he was meet with the undead gently tilting his head to the side, his hand weakly waving back. It was clearly time to go, as much as he was curious, his instincts were screaming to him that he should go before he gets himself eaten by this weird fella.
So he did just that, always keeping an eye on the zombie. As he was quickly getting back to the golf cart, the undead was slowly walking in his direction, which only alarmed him a little. He wasn't really threatening, but he had his surprise in the past and he wouldn't stay to see if he was wrong.
He then started to drive for the garage again, making sure the way was safe, trying to stay the most away possible from the walking bodies. He had to take out the list Stan had given him, trying is best to remember what he was supposed to get. He wasn't really good with cars, but he was doing his best to find what they needed. Not like there would be anyone to arrest him in his stealing anyway. It took a great part of his time, needing to take some from cars who were already there, also needing to deal with unwanted visitors.
Only once it was all done did he went to one of the clothes stores. It wasn't summertime anymore, autumn had clearly settled and they needed warmer clothes. At least the younger twins needed some, as Stanley already had the necessary, Wendy had some of her coats still at her dad house, same for Pacifica at her mansion.
But before looking for clothes, he needed to make sure he wouldn't get caught by surprise. Sure one of the windows was smashed, but if there was no one in, it was easy to keep an eye only on that. Luckily he was alone, so like this, he could look around freely. It was easy to find warmer clothes, a little less coat that could do for the winter, though he promised himself to go and look in houses. Sure they might have some extra at the shack, but it could be good to have something at their sizes.
Nothing was really fitting the twins own preferences, but they honestly didn't really have the choice to go with it. The best solution would nearly be to find Mabel some yarn so she could do her silly sweater. She would have both something to do and clothes she likes.
He was picking what he felt would fit the best, knowing if it was good for him, or even slightly bigger, it would be fine for his sister. He was folding it into his bag, trying to put in the most he could, so he wouldn't need to come back.
Dipper nearly dropped the hoodie he was taking off when he heard shard of glass cracking as if being stepped on. He quickly ducked behind the clothing stand, looking discretely for what the unwelcome visitor was looking like.
Shock washed over him when he saw the same zombie from earlier. This couldn't be right... yet it was the same slim man with dirty light blond hair. And... was he sniffing the air? A sense of dread took him, not believing him. Had he tracked his smell up to here? Impossible... He never saw anything like this in the past months, what if others were doing this? Sure he had seen some sniffing for them, but never on such a long distance.
He quickly stuffed the hoodie in his bag, trying to see if he could get out of there safely. Maybe the back store? But what if the doors had an alarm on them? He would only bring more attention here.
"Think quickly Dipper, what should you do" he mumbled to himself, not really realising he was speaking to himself. "Do you want to risk triggering an alarm or do you want to see if he's friendly". He nearly laughed at friendly. Yeah, sure. But he decided with the latter one. A one on one fight was always better than a twelve on one fight.
He then stood up, looking directly at the undead, unsure. He sure did quickly grabbed the attention, as the blond was looking at him again, slowly walking towards him, which made Dipper slowly back away. "Hey buddy" he tried, his voice quivering slightly as he was looking at a way to get out "What about you just let me get out of here, hum?" he suggested hesitantly.
His curiosity got back when he realised that the zombie didn't have the same glint in the eyes as the others when looking at him, or even the same expression. There was more than blankness in his mind and it was still bothering the young man. Why was he so different from all the other zombies?
The distance was starting to be smaller and smaller between them, Dipper still unsure if he should act on his curiosity or instinct. He really wanted to let his curiosity win for once, because strangely he wasn't feeling threatened by the being approaching.
He was startled when he heard a groan from the entrance, another one getting in, which wasn't good. He was even more startled when the blond suddenly got faster, cornering Dipper against a mirror between two wall shelves. He was panicking, trying to push him away, sure he would get injured. The low growl from the zombie made him freeze, quickly realising his arm where still lazily at his side and he wasn't trying to bite him.
He shivers as he was being pinned against the wall, the blond rubbing his cheek against his, doing the same with their upper body. His eyes were anxiously stalking the other zombie, holding his breath as she passed close to them. She did stop but soon went back to wandering around the store.
Wait, was he trying to help him? Was his smell covering his? Why... Why would a zombie do such a thing, it was all confusing him so much. He wouldn't really complain though, he was even grateful for the help.
He was surprised when he felt the taller one placed his head against his shoulder as if resting there. His anxiety was keeping Dipper from moving, both from the zombie pinning him against a mirror and the other one wandering around. He wasn't sure for how long they got stuck like this, it could have been ten minutes as much as it could have been two hours. In all cases, it was too much for Dipper.
Once the other zombie was gone, Dipper didn't lose time to push away the body, quickly getting out from his trap, trying to wash his cheek with his sleeve. Yet the zombie didn't make a move to get too close, always staying at least two meters away. He did walk around a little to see if he was following him and it was clearly what he was doing.
Great. Now he had a dead stalker.
He went back to the golf cart, slowly driving to the groceries store, though they were selling more than just food. They had a pet aisle and a hygiene-pharmacy one, which would be useful. They needed food, bandage and feminine product (after all, they were living with three women). He also knew he would like that store since he already had made sure no one was in and made sure nothing would get in either. He doubted any other survivors were still in Gravity Falls, otherwise, they would have suggested to join them.
When he was sure everything was secured on the cart, he ran to the door, skillfully taking away his lock, before getting in. He blocked the door from the inside before being startled by the blond standing on the other side. They stare at each other, the zombie looking as if asking to get in. "As if I would let you in" mumbled Dipper.
He was turning his back on him and walking away when he heard some banging. This only made him turned back, looking at the zombie banging his head on the window, making Dipper suddenly tense. What was he doing? He was going to bring back attention to the store, he couldn't afford that, especially with the bodies in the parking lot already curious about the sound.
He bites his lips, before groaning, getting back at the door and pulling the zombie in. He was being so careless, but it was all caused by how the zombie didn't seem threatening. "You stay away from me and never in my back" he warned, not even sure he was really understood. He took himself a cart, going for what they needed.
Sure they had plenty of cans in the basement for such event, but they couldn't leave only on that. Though there weren't many fresh things either, the best they could do was trying to make some stuff grow.
So he went around, looking for what he needed and what he knew he could carry with him. It took him more time as he was always keeping an eye on his new stalker when he was near him, arguing alone when he was suddenly appearing from the other end of a aisle and nearly giving him a heart attack. It took so much time that when he was packing his stuff in plastic bags he realised the sun was really low in the sky.
He cursed at himself, not believing his wandering around in town had taken this much time. Sure he did go on his mission in the early afternoon, but he never thought he would waste this much time. He couldn't go back now, it was too dangerous wandering out when it was night. So now he was stuck in a groceries store with a zombie. Great, just what he needed. He couldn't really throw him outside either, as he felt like he would start banging at the door again.
He tried the phone to warn his family, but of course, the line was dead too. Well, he wouldn't complain too much, it was already incredible the place still had power and light on. At least it could make him less anxious. He wasn't in the dark for now, so he still had some chance on his side.
He turned back to the body standing still not far away, staring at him. "Could you not stare, you are making me uneasy" he asked, surprised when he receive a slight nod, the eyes looking around a little more. "... thanks" he said hesitantly.
He found himself a spot to sit down at, placing his bags and other objects in front of himself, as if to create a wall. He finally left himself lean against the wall behind him to relax, watching the dead body sitting down in front of him, still keeping a respectable distance.
Dipper sighed, passing a hand over his tired eyes. He was on night duty the day before, he needed some sleep. But he couldn't sleep, not here at least and with how silent the zombie was he wouldn't even try hiding behind doors. What if he wanted to attack him and would just wait for him to open it back? So he decided to stay awake.
It was hard, at some point he even started to talk about random things just so he could keep focusing. It was also funny since it seems to interest the zombie in front of him. He couldn't tell for sure, but something was telling him he was actually listening to his blabbering. He even went on explaining nice thing to do in Gravity Falls as if he was a tourist guide. After all, he didn't remember ever seeing this man, so he must have been new to the place before the catastrophe.
But slowly he felt himself drifting away, his eyes becoming harder and harder to keep open. At some point, he did lose his battle against sleep and fell unconscious, simply watched by the curious being in front of him.